Sighting of Rare Pink Manta Ray Caught on Film In The Great Barrier Reef

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A photograph of a very rare bubblegum pink manta ray was caught by a Finnish underwater photographer, Kristian Laine. Known as the only one with the same color, Inspector Clouseau – which he’s been playfully named – is said to live close to Lady Elliot Island located in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

His name happens to be a tribute to the detective from all the Pink Panther movies, but it’s really the panther in those movies that has the matching color of this gorgeous sea creature. But aside from the adorable name, the photos themselves had both online observers and marine biologists, as well as anyone else that has had the pleasure of seeing him, gawk in awe.


It was back in 2015 when diving instructor Ryan Jeffery first saw the gorgeous manta ray. But it was only when Laine managed to get close to him in the last year when she was able to take some photos. Her photos were featured in Australian Geographic, and Twitter user Lucy Cooke posted about the amazing animal. She explained that Inspector Clouseau was probably pink because of “a rare mutation, like albinism” but that he was also incredibly beautiful, and we’re absolutely certain you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that won’t agree.

Dive instructor Jeffery spoke to the Daily Mail about the ray, sharing, “It is very rare because I think there has only been around eight to 10 sightings since the first sighting in 2015. I felt amazed afterwards but also felt like when I was in its eye level, I felt like he was smiling at me.”

He went on to say, “He was big and I got into a touch range but obviously didn’t touch, I was super close, about a meter at best. The whole encounter lasted for about 20 to 30 minutes and he was part of a mating manta train that was just circling around a cleaning station.”

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Worlds only pink manta called Inspector Clouseau. What an amazing and absolutely unforgettable encounter that was. Stay tuned for more photos to come of this beautiful mantas little adventures at Lady Elliot Island . . . . . #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #aquatech_imagingsolutions #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #aussiephotos #ig_australia__ #natgeo #ourblueplanet #padi #australia_shotz #abcaustralia #oceanconservancy #underwater_is_life #snorkel.around.the.world #naturephotographer

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Manta rays are known to be large sea creatures, usually reaching up to a disc size of up to 5.5 meters or 18 feet. But there is also the giant oceanic manta ray which can get as big as 7 meters in disc size, or around 23 feet. The difference with this one is that most rays are normally quite gray or subdued in color. So seeing Inspector Clouseau in all his pink splendor was both shocking and amazing for those that had the pleasure of watching him swim gracefully through the ocean.

When Scientists first saw his color, they were led to believe that his light pink belly was due to a skin infection. The University of Queensland’s Project Manta even said, “the coloration is just as unusual and unique expression of the skin’s melanin.” But there have been other ideas as to why he is the color he is.


Photographer Laine shared, “I have read multiple different answers, they have analyzed a sample of his skin and they have changed their theories many times and still don’t seem to know for sure.”

“I think the latest theory is that it’s some sort of a genetic mutation causing a pink of melanin to be expressed,” she added.

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Its pink manta kind of monday today. The only pink manta in the whole world can be found cruising the shallow waters around lady elliot from time to time, around 8 times in 8 years i think is more like the odds 😉 . . . . . #thisisqueensland #seeaustralia #southerngreatbarrierreef #nikonaustralia #gbrmarinepark #australiangeographic #ladyelliotislandecoresort #underwaterphotography #ocean #oceanvision #discoverocean #ausgeo #qldparks #aquatech_imagingsolutions #madeofocean #freedive #natgeowild #natgeoyourshot #natgeoau #aussiephotos #ig_australia__ #natgeo #ourblueplanet #padi #australia_shotz #abcaustralia #oceanconservancy #underwater_is_life #snorkel.around.the.world #naturephotographer

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When Laine posted this photo on her Instagram page @kristianlainephotography sometime back in February, she wrote, “Its pink manta kind of monday today. The only pink manta in the whole world can be found cruising the shallow waters around lady Elliot, from time to time, around 8 times in 8 years i think is more like the odds ;)”

These days, Inspector Clouseau has become quite the celebrity and probably has had a ton of visitors just hoping to get a glimpse of this ethereal and rare manta ray in all his rose-tinted glory!

 

 

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